GB2192590A

GB2192590A - Valve manifolds for ink jet printers

Info

Publication number: GB2192590A
Application number: GB08715587A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jiri Vonasek
Original assignee: Markpoint System AB
Current assignee: Markpoint System AB
Priority date: 1986-07-15
Filing date: 1987-07-02
Publication date: 1988-01-20
Anticipated expiration: 2007-07-02
Also published as: JPH07102703B2; GB8715587D0; IT1211652B; JPS6369655A; SE8603123L; GB2192590B; SE8603123D0; FR2601750B1; FR2601750A1; IT8748178A0; SE455015B; US4736774A; DE3722740C2; DE3722740A1

Abstract

An electro mechanic valve device for an ink jet printer comprising at least two valves arranged in a valve housing. Each valve is associated with a magnet core having a winding and a valve pipe having a valve armature and a counter armature. The windings at adjacent magnet cores are arranged alternatingly, a first one at one side of the row of valve pipes and the next one at the opposite side.

Description

GB2192590A 1 SPECIFICATION winding 9. The valve pipe 5 has the same type

of valve armature and counter armature An electro mechanic valve device as the valve pipe 6. As appears from Fig. 1 the windings 4 and 9, respectively, are ar The present invention relates to an electro 70 ranged at opposite sides of a plane accommo mechanic valve for an ink jet printer compris- dating the valve pipes 5 and 6. The magnet ing at least two valves arranged in a valve windings do therefore define a zig-zag pattern, housing where each valve is associated with a which means that the valve pipes and conse magnetic core having a winding and a valve quently the valve orifices may be arranged pipe having a valve armature and a counter 75 closer to each other giving a valve device, armature. which will be more compact. When using a Electro mechanic valve devices of the type valve device according to the present inven mentioned are used for instance in ink type tion in an ink jet printer, the number of valve printers having several valves, for instance pipes for instance may be seven pipes.

seven valves, each one controlling one ink jet. 80 The set aside or lateral placement of the The drawback with such valve devices is that windings additionally means the advantage of they are space demanding because the wind- a more efficient cooling of the windings. It is ings of the magnet cores are arranged succes- also possible to have a larger number of sively in a straight row. winding turns or a thicker winding on each The object of the present invention is to 85 coil in order to obtain a faster valve.

provide an electro mechanic valve device A seven valve pipe embodiment of a printer which is less space demanding, i.e. which is head or electro mechanic valve device accord more compact or has a larger packing density. ing to the invention is shown in Fig. 2. The Additionally, the object is to provide a struc- reference numeral 10 indicates a housing ture which prevents gas-formation in ink chan- 90 forming a printing ink chamber 11 filled by nels within the printer by reducing the length pressurized ink from a chamber inlet (not of the ink channels. The short channel length shown). Plugs 12a-g form guides for valve does also mean a reduced clogging risk and a pipes 14a-g and are sealed against the hous lower pressure drop in the ink system. ing 10 by sealing rings 13a-g.

The valve device according to the invention 95 The valve pipes encompass, with a small is characterized in that the windings on adjacircumferential gap, valve armatures 22a-g cent magnet cores are arranged alternatingly which are spring biased, by springs 20 a-g on one of two sides relative the row of valve acting on armature shoulders, in a direction pipes, and that each valve armature extends towards ink outlets 23a-g formed in an end into the printing ink containing chamber of the 100 plate 19 of the housing. There are end ele printer close to an ink outlet in the wall of the ments 25a-g on the valve armatures acting as chamber. sealing members when all, some or one of the In a preferred embodiment each valve arma- armatures are/is in a state corresponding to ture is arranged for movement in the longitudi- the appropriate number of non-energized wind- nal direction of its valve pipe. 105 ings. The armature positions and end element In one embodiment a front element of each positions in Fig. 1 correspond to a state valve armature acts as an ink outlet sealing where all seven windings (not shown in Fig.

member when the armature is in a no-printing 2) are energized and where pressurized ink position. escapes from all openings 23a-g.

The invention is described in detail in the 110 The level of ink within the chamber 10 ex following by reference to the accompanying tends, within said circumferential gap, at a drawings, where: maximum up to the lower end of elements Figure 1 schematically shows an embodi- 16a-g acting as counter armatures and guided ment of the invention having several valves, by sleeves 18a-g, e.g the element 8 in Fig. 1.

each one controlled by an electro mechanic 115 The counter elements form a liquid tight sea[ device, one of which is shown in a perspec- at the top region of the valve pipes 14a-g.

tive view and the other one in a perspective Each core 17a-g (the windings thereof are not section view, and shown in Fig. 2) corresponds to core 2 or 3 Figure 2 is a section view and elevation in Fig. 1.

view, respectively, of a printer head, basically 120 As appears from the disclosure, the inven along line 11-11 in Fig. 1. tion provides a compact, short ink channel ink The valve device shown in Fig. 1 has a jet printer head having the specific valve de Val ve housing 1, on which are mounted two vice described.

magnet cores 2 and 3, respectively, the latter

Claims

one of which is cut longitudinally. The core 2 125 CLAIMS has a winding 4

and through the core there is 1. An electro mechanic valve for an ink jet guided a valve pipe 5. The core 3 has also a printer, comprising at least two valves ar valve pipe 6, in which is arranged a moveable ranged in a valve housing, where each valve is valve armature 7 and a counter armature 8. associated with a magnet core having a wind- Around the core there is arranged a magnet 130 ing, and a valve pipe having a valve armature 2 GB2192590A 2 and a counter armature, and where the valve pipes form a straight row, characterised in that the windings of adjacent. magnet cores are arranged alternatingly, one at a first side and the next at the opposite side of the row of valve pipes, and that each valve armature extends into the printing ink containing chamber of the printer close to an ink outlet in the wall of the chamber.
2. An electro mechanic valve device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein each valve armature is arranged for movement in the longitudinal direction of its valve pipe.
3. An electro mechanic valve device as claimed-in Claim 2, wherein a front element of each valve armature acts as an ink outlet sealing member when the armature is in a noprinting position.
4. An electro mechanic-valve device sub- stantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the. accompaying drawings.

Published 1988 at The Patent Office, State House, 66/71 High Holborn, London WC 1 R 4TP. Further copies may be obtained from The Patent Office, SalesBranch, StMaryCray, Orpington, Kent BR5 3RD. Printed by Burgess & Son (Abingdon) Ltd. Con. 1/87.